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Upcoming holiday events

The Harlem Christmas Tree Lighting will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Harlem City Hall, 320 N. Louisville St. There will be hot chocolate, popcorn, live holiday music and Santa Claus. For more information, call (706) 556-0043.

The annual Grovetown Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Grovetown Senior Center on Robinson Avenue at Old Wrightsboro Road. Holiday decorations will light up the Grovetown Senior Center, Friendship Park and the Grovetown Museum. There will be hot chocolate and a visit from Santa Claus. Call Jennifer Evans at (706) 860-7691.

Arts in Appling

The Columbia County Historical Society is holding the annual Arts In Appling from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 in Appling. Costumed hosts will lead tours of the 1812 courthouse and the 1934 jail. The free event also includes arts and refreshments.

Grovetown’s Christmas

The Grovetown Christmas parade will begin at noon Dec. 7 at Grovetown Middle School and move along Harlem-Grovetown Road to Robinson Avenue and end at Summerfield subdivision. To register a parade entry, contact Jennifer Evans at (706) 860-7691 or JEvans@grovetownga.us.

Nutcracker show

The Cutno Dance Center will present The Nutcracker on Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. in the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd. Creative director Ferneasa Cutno has put together a lively contemporary version titled Nutcracker in the South using the classic score by Tchaikovsky and the score by Duke Ellington. Tickets can be purchased through https://21397.recitalticketing.com/21397

Ride through Life of Christ

Sharon Baptist Church is holding its annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 12-15 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Columbia Road across from Patriots Park. Admission is free. There will be a hayride through scenes of Jesus’ life, hot chocolate and live music. For more information, call (706) 541-0667.

Choir concert

St. Teresa of Avila’s Music Ministry presents Noel: Night of Everlasting Love, a Christmas choir concert, at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 13, in the church, 4921 Columbia Road, Grovetown. A dessert reception will follow. Donations support St. Teresa’s Music Ministry. Contact Kimberly Lies (706) 863-4956, ext. 109 or at kimberlyroach25@hotmail.com. Tickets are $3 or two for $5 and will be sold after Mass and at the door.

Harlem play

The Dream Academy Players will perform Santa’s Playlist at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at North Harlem Elementary School, 525 Fairview Drive. The Dream Academy is the Columbia County Community Connections’ after-school program. The play is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted. Call (706) 556-0609.

Bethlehem Village in Harlem

Harlem United Methodist and Harlem Baptist churches are inviting visitors to Walk Through Bethlehem 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13-15 at the field between the churches on Milledgeville Road, Harlem. The event is free and depicts what Bethlehem might have been like in the tiem of Jesus. For more information, call (706) 556-6885 or (706) 556-6439.

Singing Christmas Tree

Abilene Baptist Church will hold its 35th annual Singing Christmas Tree at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13-14 and at 3 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 15. Tickets are free and are available in advance from the church at 3917 Washington Road, Martinez, or online for a small fee at www.itickets.com. For more information, call (706) 869-1774.

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast With Santa will be held at 8:15 and 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14 at The Acorn Restaurant at red Oak Manor at 410 N. Louisville St., Harlem. Advance tickets cost $8 and can be purchased at Red Oak Manor. For more information, call (706) 556-8222.

Harlem Christmas festival

The City of Harlem will hold its 11th annual Christmas in the Heart of Downtown Harlem Festival and Parade on Dec. 14. The festival will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The parade starts at 11 a.m.

For more information or to register as a vendor, contact Stacie Hart at (706) 556-0043 or shart@harlemga.org.